DEMARCHE: MESSAGE TO PALESTINIANS

C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 006676 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/24/2013 TAGS: KPAL KWBG PREL IS TU SUBJECT: DEMARCHE: MESSAGE TO PALESTINIANS REF: STATE 296490 (U) Classified by Political Counselor John Kunstadter e.o. 12958, reasons 1.5 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) We presented reftel demarche October 21 to MFA Middle East and Maghreb Head of Department Kemal Tuzun. After promising to convey the contents of the demarche to MFA's Deputy Undersecretary for the Middle East, Tuzun then confirmed by telephone that the MFA would transmit the demarche directly to the Turkish consul general in Jerusalem to discuss with the Palestinians. ¶2. (C) Tuzun noted terrorism has no justification anywhere and that Turkey would urge the Palestinians to take the necessary steps to control terrorism. He further commented that at the same time, there is an imbalance in the use of force by Israelis. Tuzun suggested unoffically that a third party was needed to monitor the progress made by the Israelis and Palestinians. He was concerned the lack of progress in accomplishing Road Map objectives would prompt the international community to lose interest in the Israeli-Palestinian issue. ¶3. (C) Finally, Tuzun presented us with a "List of security actions taken by the Palestinian security forces:" which Nabil Abu Rudeineh delivered to the Turkish consul general in Jerusalem "for the consideration of the Americans." Emphasizing his role as "only the messenger," Tuzun said the Palestinians want to intensify and increase security contacts with the Israelis and the Americans and had asked the Turks and the members of the Quartet to transmit this message. We reminded Tuzun the demarche asked the Palestinians to unite their security forces under the authority of the prime minister. A copy of the list of security actions is being sent by facsimile to Assistant Secretary Burns. EDELMAN